When people are asked to define comfort foods, the answer is variable. There are as many variations to the answer as there are individuals who are asked the question. What makes something a comfort food while others are not? Is it related to diet or type of recipe? Is it related to region or country?

At a restaurant, a waitress was asked the question of what she thought of when she was asked about comfort foods. She did not hesitate to answer, "Oh, meat loaf and potatoes, green beans. Stuff like that." When asked to describe how she came to her answer, she said, "These are the things that I had growing up at family meals." It appears she related to meals that she had at home with family.

Comfort foods remind people of home and family. It is food that gives them comfort, a sense of family and home. People think of family gatherings, holidays, and special occasions. It does not necessarily have to do with a secret family recipe (although the secret might be that eating gives members of the family a warm feeling of home). It is not surprising that everyone has an image of a family meal.

Yahoo! News Search Results for comfort food
Yahoo! News Search Results for comfort food

The Recipe for Cool Weather Comfort Foods (Maumelle Monitor)
(ARA) - As the weather gets brisk and the sun sets earlier, we find ourselves yearning for food and beverages that are simple, familiar and home-made. Comfort food is as soothing as a warm sweater, but it doesn't have to be boring if you add a little creativity.
Cash-strapped customers turn to comfort foods (Publican)
CREDIT-CRUNCHED consumers are turning to traditional comfort foods in greater numbers than ever, according to the findings of The Publican Food Report 2008 , published in the November 24 issue.
Chef's Table Offers Up-Scale Comfort (Brigham Young NewsNet)
Chef's Table offers a story-book dining experience in the same manner it offers its food: imaginative and artistic, yet still comfortable.
Creature Free Comfort Food (City Pulse)
Turkey may always rule Thanksgiving, but dishes like cranberry chutney and nut loaf with vegan gravy aren't bad substitutes for those who don't dine on flesh (or anything from animals).
Lucille's cooks up comfort and cheer (Miami Herald)
In uncertain times, we want something we can count on -- even if it's just meatloaf or a gooey hot fudge sundae. Stress summons cravings for homey comfort foods we rarely make at home anymore.
Meatless comfort foods, anyone? (Orange County Register)
Irvine-based Veggie Grill opens a third SoCal eatery Friday at the Irvine Spectrum Center. Tasty protein substitutes -- not tofu -- are key to the chain's mainstream success.
Retail sales bring scant comfort (BBC News)
Sales on the UK's High Streets fell by a lower-than-expected 0.1% in October, Office for National Statistics figures show.
Cold comfort (BBC News)
Icy swims numb the pain of Iceland's financial woes
News | Capital City Weekly for Wednesday, November 19, 2008 (Capital City Wee...
SITKA - What is the ethical way to eat in Alaska - or anywhere? How can you break away from the industrial food system? Where is your comfort level in taking a life for food? Is it better to shoot a deer than to buy tofu that has been shipped thousands of miles?
Black Orchid's Southern comfort (The Morning Call)
At Allentown's Black Orchid, which replaced Louie's at the corner of 12th and Chew streets, robust flavors bring lusty Southern fare north to the Lehigh Valley.